LaHood calls for nationwide ban on cell phone conversations, texting while driving
(Jason Getz, AJC)
(Updated 3:04 p.m.)
If it’s left up to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, no driver on U.S. roads would be allowed to talk or text on cell phones while behind the wheel.
LaHood on Thursday called on Congress to ban talking or texting while driving any vehicle on any road in the nation, according to a Reuters report.
LaHood told a group of doctors, advocates and government officials in San Antonio that the problem of accidents connected to cell phone use is a “national epidemic.” The National Transportation Safety Administration reported 3,000 traffic deaths attributed to distracted driving last year, many blamed on cell phone use.
He said he was not too concerned about people who eat or apply makeup while driving because “not everyone does that,” Reuters reported.
“But everyone has a cell phone and too many of us think it is OK to talk on our phones while we are driving,” the secretary was quoted as saying.
LaHood has been pushing for the ban for several years. His office said he remains supportive of state efforts to address the issue. So far, 37 states plus the District of Columbia have banned texting while driving and 10 states plus D.C. have total bans on handheld phones while driving.
Georgia’s law banning texting while driving took effect July 1, 2010. According to the state Department of Driver Services, there had been more than 500 convictions for violations of the law as of mid-December.
Georgia Code 40-6-241.1 prohibits people under the age of 18 from “wireless communications” (cell phone conversations, texting, sending or reading emails, etc.) while operating a motor vehicle. Georgia Code 40-6-241.2 prohibits people 18 years old or older from “writing, sending or reading text based communication” while operating a motor vehicle.
Is it time for a federal ban on talking and texting while driving?
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163 comments Add your comment
Happy Democrat
April 27th, 2012
6:58 pm
I am happy that government programs keep me safe. The more government the better far as I’m concerned. Government almost always knows best! Obama 2012!!!
Martok
April 27th, 2012
7:08 pm
THANK YOU! BAN THEM ALL!
David Beall
April 27th, 2012
7:29 pm
Most of you are ignoring the simple math of the situation and offering opinions based on what you have been told. Here is the real truth of the matter. 2010 had the fewest number of traffic deaths in 60 years, according to the USDOT. Now, I’ve been using a cell phone for about 17 years, which is about the same number of years that cellphones have been available to the general population. In 17 years, I have never been involved in a traffic accident that was a result of using the cell phone while I was driving.
Additionally, in 2010 the traffic fatalities linked to “distracted driving” were approximately 3000. That’s 1/100,000ths of the population, or 0.00001, or .001% (1000th of a percent). This is not a statistically significant number. We do not infringe on personal freedoms for statistically insignificant numbers.
By comparison, we have about the same number of drowning deaths per year. Have there been any calls to ban swimming? More than 2,500 Americans die from heart disease each DAY. Are we going to ban bacon and force mandatory exercise?
The point is that the government cannot and should not protect you from every possible cause of death. It would be different if there were hundreds of thousands of deaths related to cell phone use. But there are not. While I do not advise texting and driving, the statistics do not even support the bans on that activity. I will use my cell phone whenever and wherever I please thank you very much!
Jennifer Zamora
April 27th, 2012
8:22 pm
Driving a vehicle is a privilege, not a right. When the use of that vehicle is done in a manner that endangers lives then consequences should be imposed. There is not an argument on this planet that can justify holding a phone in your hand while driving. Second hand smoke was rightfully utilized as an argument to ban smoking in public areas. Why then, is it such a fight to ban someone from dangerously operating a 4000lb piece of equipment at high rates of speed? Unlike second hand smoke, the act of distracted driving can instantly kill, maim or disfigure an innocent person. This is not big brother controlling our lives, this is a government reigning in an overly obnoxious, instant gratification, self absorbed society that selfishly believes that their desire to dangerously text or talk while driving supersedes my right to have my husband return home safely from a shopping trip.
Atlantaphotog
April 27th, 2012
11:46 pm
So in the two years Georgia has had a texting ban, they’ve only written 500 ticket for it in the whole state??? They should be writing 500 tickets in metro Atlanta alone PER DAY! WTH. I almost got rear ended by a lady just the other day who was texting and not paying attention. She barely screeched to a stop 1 inch from my rear in time and in the rearview mirror I saw her coming – iPhone in hand – texting away. After rolling down my window and teaching her several new phrases that all begin with “F”, she might have slightly got the point. She joins the growing list of near-misses I’ve had by texters in the last few months.
To heck with tickets – if someone causes an accident while texting I think maybe a 90 day suspension of their license and a $5000.00 fine might snap them out of it.
Charlz Wrad
April 28th, 2012
10:13 am
Truckers have been talking on CB radios for centuries but they are professional drivers. You are not. So try to concentrate on your driving because most of you need a lot of work in that department.
Ban!
April 28th, 2012
1:08 pm
the government should also ban all smoking inside cars! It creates pollution and is a safety hazard when people are lighting and holding cigarettes while driving!
Jeff
April 28th, 2012
4:14 pm
Jennifer Zamora @ 8:22 p.m. — you supporters STILL have not answered my question: WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE?? What other distractions are you willing to ban? Are you willing to take radios and Ipods out of cars? Those are distracting. What about people inputting GPS stuff into their Garmin? That’s distracting. How about people eating, drinking, or reading? And the BIGGEST distractions are people either talking, arguing, laughing or otherwise interacting with passengers IN the car…. those are JUST as big a distraction. You are going down a slippery slope when you start to regulate what I am or am not capable of as an individual — you CANNOT compare my judgement to the moron down the street who couldn’t even pass his G.E.D.
Those of us who are against this ban are NOT selfish, nor are we obnoxious… we are simply NOT going to let our government start to decide EVERY LITTLE DETAIL of our lives and regulate what we should and shouldn’t do for our safety. If I can eat bacon and doughnuts and have enough common sense to balance it out with healthy foods and exercise, I should maintain that right — but in the next few years (mark my words), the Feds are going to try to ban foods with sugar, salt, trans-fats, etc. all in the name of public health and safety.
Once again, I command you — DO NOT punish me because I can carry on a phone conversation and drive at the same time and be safe just because YOU CAN’T. I will not let our nation turn into Big Brother any more than it already does. Those of you who support this ban are indeed showing your ignorance — once you submit personal freedoms to the government, YOU DON’T GET THEM BACK!!!
Please read David Beall’s comments above at 7:29 p.m. to see the proper context of this situation and why we are MASSIVELY missing the point on this issue.
Ann
April 28th, 2012
6:08 pm
@ Jeff – I am not opposed to government limitations on things that affect my safety or my expense. As stated in the article, cell phone use is far more common than some of the other driving distractions mentioned. And, it is causing many accidents. At this point, technology and police investigations are lax at tracking it. I know personally of severe injuries as a result of cell phone drivers. Those of you opposed to the ban may reconsider once you or a family member are hit by one of these phone users.
Regarding bans on eating junk food, eating poorly only affects the health and safety of the eater. It is a poor comparison to driving with a cell phone that impacts others. Eating poorly does affect, however, the “pocketbook” of others when we pay for the health care of obese and unhealthy people. Our private insurance premiums are higher as a result, along with taxes that cover Medicaid and Medicare. There is a societal function in ensuring a healthier public, so that we are not paying more than we should. How much do you want to pay each year to allow everyone to “do as they please” regarding driving, eating, etc.? Car insurance and health insurance premiums are higher as a result. How much extra do you want to pay? $500? $1000? $5000?
Will
April 29th, 2012
4:12 pm
Ray Lahood thinks that his government ought to be the solution to EVERYTHING. If we get enough laws, we will all be guilty of something and the power will be held by those who decide whether or not to prosecute you. All Power TO The State!
Robert Philips
April 30th, 2012
1:00 pm
Thank you for helping to raise awareness for distracted driving. The “Stop the Texts” texting and driving prevention campaign just conducted a survey of young adults today to identify what would encourage them to NOT text while driving.
The survey found that friends, followed by their parents, are the people who would be influential in encouraging young adult drivers not to text while driving. In light of these findings, tomorrow (May 1), we are hosting the first nationwide “Stop the Texts” Day to encourage friends and parents of young adult drivers to educate them on the risks of texting while driving.
We invite you and your readers to join us.
We’re encouraging everyone to share our status updates throughout the day to help raise awareness. We’re also conducting a #stopthetextsday Twitter town at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) with Connecticut Attorney General, George Jepsen, Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), and other campaign spokespeople to discuss how to address this issue.
You can learn more at facebook.com/stopthetexts and twitter.com/stopthetexts.
Bluto
May 1st, 2012
11:13 am
You people are pathetic! You think the cell companies would allow this or the business community? How the hell would a salesmen operate in todays world without a cell phone. Think about it idiots!
Stu Cozza
May 3rd, 2012
12:49 pm
“Do you think that we want those laws to be observed? We want them broken. There’s no way to rule innocent men.
The only power the government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them.
One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.”
-Ayn Rand